What's the first thing you think when you see a pumpkin trail event?

[Concestor]

If you see a pumpkin trail being held in October half term, do you think it's related to Halloween or do you think of something else, and if so, what?

Help me resolve a discussion!

@mafted

The gruffalo trail isn't real grudfalos for example.

@liveforsummer best example ever

[quote liveforsummer]@NiceGerbil I live in Scotland, not America. We grow pumpkins here - in autumn. [/quote]
Interesting! Thank you.

Are they a key autumn association though?

Do you have trails etc?

I mean my point is that this question will be (and reading the post has been!) just??? to loads of posters.

It's guising that you have in Scotland i think as well, or have I got mixed up?

@BlackShadowCat

I think seasonal foods aren't so big in the Uk, but where I live apples and pumpkin flavored food are big in autumn. Starbucks do a pumpkin spice latte. I guess British people might think it's a Halloween thing, but I don't think it's ever been marketed as such, it's just an autumn thing because pumpkins are harvested in autumn.

Seasonal foods are big here for sure! Also things connected to harvest/ things becoming ready to consume.

English strawberries and asparagus
New pots esp jersey
New season lamb
First batch of cider if you live in certain areas
And of course Xmas pud and other Xmas foods

I don't think generally pumpkin has taken off here in a big way. Used a lot in some communities but not generally.

Ooh pick your own!!! Yummy.

Merrymouse good shout on picking!

Plenty of blackberry picking from the paths and less managed public land round here. N London.

I like bonfire night best tbh after Xmas.

I only realised it wasn't a general celebration (IE not just here) until I was about 14

Suppose I just never thought about it!

Has the argument that it's sectarian been pushed yet? It's got to come at some point...

Oooh pumpkins!

I think pumpkins are larger than they should be at this time of year.

Yes a autumn event. Fun!

@GivenUpEntirely

I'd assume Halloween but there's a whole new crop of people who now celebrate autumnal things including decorating in the same way as Christmas a fool and their money comes to mind but not remotely linked to the old harvest festivals and being grateful for crops thing that used to be celebrated in the UK.

My second assumption would be middle class boden parents trying to #makememories

Or they could be pagan where autu/ harvest is a holiday worth celebrating In their opinion. 🙄

Sorry to have disappeared! I'm not in the US, I'm in the UK and was asking because I'm on the PTA of a church school which doesn't celebrate Halloween, and some people were suggesting a pumpkin trail (pictures of pumpkins in Windows for people to find) as a half term fundraiser, but some people felt that was still doing Halloween just using a different name

So I was interested in what people would think, hence keeping it vague.

I'm in the camp that thinks pumpkins are Halloween because I have only ever seen them used as carved scary faces. They aren't my autumn go-to as it were and I would automatically think Halloween if an event were pumpkin themed.

You could do something else such as a hunt for big red leaves or a hunt for apples if they are worried pumpkins are too Halloween-themed.

For goodness sake! Pumpkins/turnips/jackolanterns were traditionally used to scare away evil spirits - why would a church school object to pumpkins? It's like objecting to gargoyles

@zurala

Sorry to have disappeared! I'm not in the US, I'm in the UK and was asking because I'm on the PTA of a church school which doesn't celebrate Halloween, and some people were suggesting a pumpkin trail (pictures of pumpkins in Windows for people to find) as a half term fundraiser, but some people felt that was still doing Halloween just using a different name

So I was interested in what people would think, hence keeping it vague.

I'm in the camp that thinks pumpkins are Halloween because I have only ever seen them used as carved scary faces. They aren't my autumn go-to as it were and I would automatically think Halloween if an event were pumpkin themed.

I think that you will be fighting a losing battle trying to pretend pumpkins aren’t linked to Halloween at the end of October.

Just do a trail with a different theme.

Seedy, slimey, orange fuckers.

Pumpkin trails, pumpkin patches etc. have been around since DD was a toddler and she's nearly an adult, so nothing new. It's a nice weekend or half term activity for the autumn, you take your kids if you want to and if you think it's a huge rip off you don't.

We're going to a pick your own pumpkin place in a couple of weeks, under 16s get free entry, adult tickets are £2, carving pumpkins start at £2, they have culinary pumpkins and squashes as well. We'll get a hot chocolate after, it'll be a nice afternoon out. I could get a pumpkin from the supermarket cheaper but I wouldn't get a nice afternoon out with my family.

I think Halloween related and avoid

We went to a pick your own pumpkin place this weekend, was definitely set up as a Halloween event with staff dressed up as witches and ghosts, etc.

So I associate them with Halloween. I also now associate them with paying £30 for three pumpkins and a cute photo of the toddler in a wheelbarrow.

Our church used to do a harvest party instead of Halloween ☺️

Of course it’s related to Halloween. We’re going on a few during half term, my DC love Halloween.

Halloween & money making venture creating more unnecessary food waste.